Hello all!

Im Frank, im 26 and i have recently started swimming. I think i put too much heart in it, and i have ended with an injury in the right shoulder. I tend to breathe by this shoulder in free style.

I have the pain identified in this 2 movements:

1) When i cross my arms in front of me:
(Check this picture out to ilustrate)


The more i try to cross the bad arm, the more it hurts


2)
Extend your arms to the front:


Now, rotate your hands so your thumbs point to the floor.
The more i try to point to the floor, rotating all the arm... it hurts more.


Im taking an antiinflamatory, apllying ice, and using an antiinflamatory ointment over the area.

1 week later, i still feel some pain, and i want advice about it... go to doctor? keep it up?
Pain is really soft except if i force the arm in the 1) and 2) situations, when it really hurts.

Thanks in advance!

Frank,

It is great that you have started to swim and are pursuing it vigorously. Shoulder injuries are not unusual but they are not necessary. Consider when your hand enters the water and is at extension prior to pulling. Most swimmers' arm at that point are close to parallel to the water surface. The first movement they make is to press down with their shoulder. Unfortunately the muscles in the shoulder are not designed for that movement with great force. Yet, most swimmers assume that this is what propels them forward. Even if a swimmer is able to get a catch position with the arm parallel to the water surface and the pressing down will still present a potential for injury.

Rather than enter the water and extend to a position with the arm in a parallel position to the water surface, enter the water and "spear" your hand and arm to a position that would be considered a 4 o'clock position (consider the water surface at 3 o'clock and straight down as 6 o'clock). This arm position not only helps to put your body in better balance in the water but is will also put it in the most streamlined position other than when you push off the wall with both hands over head. From that 4 o'clock position you can then go straight into your catch easily and there will be no stress on your shoulder. You can "hold" the water as you should and propel yourself with your core muscles as you "spear" your recovering hand, arm and drive your hip. Here is a link where you can see how this should look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC8ZZZhabp4 You can see the position Terry Laughlin has with his hand and arm. There is no stress on his shoulder. You can also see where he gets his propulsion from the spearing hand and hip drive. That uses the large core muscles that do not get tired or injured as opposed to relying on your shoulder muscles that are not designed for this. Here is another link you might enjoy of another TI swimmer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJpFVvho0...re=related

(May 1, 2011 1:57pm)fdelval Wrote:  Hello all!

Im Frank, im 26 and i have recently started swimming. I think i put too much heart in it, and i have ended with an injury in the right shoulder. I tend to breathe by this shoulder in free style.

I have the pain identified in this 2 movements:

1) When i cross my arms in front of me:
(Check this picture out to ilustrate)


The more i try to cross the bad arm, the more it hurts


2)
Extend your arms to the front:


Now, rotate your hands so your thumbs point to the floor.
The more i try to point to the floor, rotating all the arm... it hurts more.


Im taking an antiinflamatory, apllying ice, and using an antiinflamatory ointment over the area.

1 week later, i still feel some pain, and i want advice about it... go to doctor? keep it up?
Pain is really soft except if i force the arm in the 1) and 2) situations, when it really hurts.

Thanks in advance!

Simple.Dont cross your arms or extend them.

(May 3, 2011 3:21pm)TISWIMMER Wrote:  Frank,

It is great that you have started to swim and are pursuing it vigorously. Shoulder injuries are not unusual but they are not necessary. Consider when your hand enters the water and is at extension prior to pulling. Most swimmers' arm at that point are close to parallel to the water surface. The first movement they make is to press down with their shoulder. Unfortunately the muscles in the shoulder are not designed for that movement with great force. Yet, most swimmers assume that this is what propels them forward. Even if a swimmer is able to get a catch position with the arm parallel to the water surface and the pressing down will still present a potential for injury.

Rather than enter the water and extend to a position with the arm in a parallel position to the water surface, enter the water and "spear" your hand and arm to a position that would be considered a 4 o'clock position (consider the water surface at 3 o'clock and straight down as 6 o'clock). This arm position not only helps to put your body in better balance in the water but is will also put it in the most streamlined position other than when you push off the wall with both hands over head. From that 4 o'clock position you can then go straight into your catch easily and there will be no stress on your shoulder. You can "hold" the water as you should and propel yourself with your core muscles as you "spear" your recovering hand, arm and drive your hip. Here is a link where you can see how this should look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC8ZZZhabp4 You can see the position Terry Laughlin has with his hand and arm. There is no stress on his shoulder. You can also see where he gets his propulsion from the spearing hand and hip drive. That uses the large core muscles that do not get tired or injured as opposed to relying on your shoulder muscles that are not designed for this. Here is another link you might enjoy of another TI swimmer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJpFVvho0...re=related

Can you offer any help? other than KEEP plugging the TI cash cow machine.